Jadon Sancho is beginning to rediscover his best form at Aston Villa, attributing much of his improvement to the encouragement and faith shown by manager Unai Emery. The 25-year-old winger broke his goal drought for Villa with a crucial header in their recent 1-0 win against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, a strike that secured the victory.
Sancho’s loan move from Manchester United to Aston Villa came late in the summer transfer window after a difficult period that included a loan spell at Chelsea last season. While at Chelsea, he made 31 league appearances and scored three goals, contributing to the club’s return to the Champions League. However, his time at Manchester United was less fruitful, and the permanent move did not materialize until Villa acted on deadline day.
Since joining Villa, Sancho has faced limited starts — only two league matches as of now — and had struggled to find the back of the net until the recent breakthrough. Speaking to TNT Sports following the win in Turkey, he credited Emery for instilling positivity and confidence in him.
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“He keeps encouraging me to stay positive every time I play. It’s great to have a manager who believes in you and has your back,” Sancho shared. “Every chance I get, I want to give 100% and hopefully score more goals. The manager and team are helping me reach my best.”
Sancho admitted he holds himself to high standards but expressed gratitude for finally opening his Villa account. Looking ahead, he remains focused on the team’s gradual progress in both the Premier League and Europa League campaigns.
“We’re doing well in both competitions, but it’s important to take it one game at a time. You can’t look too far ahead,” he said. “Fenerbahce were tough opponents, especially with the home crowd behind them. But we stuck to our game plan and came away with the win.”
Sancho’s growing confidence under Emery’s management suggests he may yet play a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s season.